A test device for testing a distance sensor operating with ultrasonic waves, wherein the distance sensor to be tested comprises at least a sensor radiating element for emitting a transmission signal and a sensor receiving element for receiving a reflected signal. For effective and accurate testing and stimulation of the distance sensor, the test device has a test receiving element for receiving ultrasonic waves emitted from the distance sensor to be tested, and at least one test radiating element for radiating test ultrasonic waves, and a signal processing unit, wherein ultrasonic waves received by the test receiving element are transmitted as a received signal to the signal processing unit and the signal processing unit, as a function of the received signal and simulation distance information relating to a distance to be simulated, and determines an excitation signal for the test radiating element.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
2. The test device according to claim 1, wherein test device distance information relating to a distance between the test device and the distance sensor to be tested is stored in the test device, and wherein the signal processing unit is configured to determine the excitation signal further based on the test device distance information.
3. The test device according to claim 1, wherein the excitation signal and thus the test ultrasonic waves have a frequency, wherein the frequency is constant or time-variable for simulating a change in distance.
5. The test device according to claim 1, wherein a spacer with a defined length is arranged in a radiation direction of the at least one test radiating element such that the test device is placed at a defined distance from the distance sensor to be tested or a mounting location of the distance sensor to be tested.
7. The test device according to claim 2, wherein an amplitude of the excitation signal is determined by the signal processing unit as a function of a corresponding amplitude of the received signal, as a function of the simulation distance information, or as a function of the test device distance information, or a combination thereof.
8. The test device according to claim 7, wherein the amplitude of the excitation signal is determined by the signal processing unit further as a function of an object information of an object or as a function of an effective reflection surface of the object and/or reflection properties of the reflection surface of the object and/or a contour of the reflection surface of the object.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
January 13, 2021
July 2, 2024
Browse 5M+ US patents with plain-English claim translations and AI-generated analysis.